fraternity-第55章
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Mr。 Stone's face was discoloured by a flush。 〃You have no children；〃 he said painfully； 〃do you live together？〃
Hilary shook his head。
〃You are estranged？〃 said Mr。 Stone。
Hilary bowed。 There was a long silence。 Mr。 Stone's eyes had travelled to the window。
〃Without love there cannot be life；〃 he said at last； and fixing his wistful gaze on Hilary； asked： 〃Does she love another？〃
Again Hilary shook his head。
When Mr。 Stone next spoke it was clearly to himself。
〃I do not know why I am glad。 Do you love another？〃
At this question Hilary's eyebrows settled in a frown。 〃What do you mean by love？〃 he said。
Mr。 Stone did not reply； it was evident that he was reflecting deeply。 His lips began to move： 〃By love I mean the forgetfulness of self。 Unions are frequent in which only the sexual instincts； or the remembrance of self； are roused…〃
〃That is true；〃 muttered Hilary。
Mr。 Stone looked up； painful traces of confusion showed in his face。
〃We were discussing something。〃
〃I was telling you；〃 said Hilary； 〃that it would be better for your daughterif I go away for a time。〃
〃Yes；〃 said Mr。 Stone； 〃you are estranged。〃
Hilary went back to his stand before the empty fireplace。
〃There is one thing； sir；〃 he said； 〃on my conscience to say before I go； and I must leave it to you to decide。 The little girl who comes to you no longer lives where she used to live。〃
〃In that street。。。。〃 said Mr。 Stone。
Hilary went on quickly。 〃She was obliged to leave because the husband of the woman with whom she used to lodge became infatuated with her。 He has been in prison； and comes out tomorrow。 If she continues to come here he will； of course； be able to find her。 I'm afraid he will pursue her again。 Have I made it clear to you？〃
〃No；〃 said Mr。 Stone。
〃The man；〃 resumed Hilary patiently； 〃is a poor； violent creature； who has been wounded in the head； he is not quite responsible。 He may do the girl an injury。〃
〃What injury？〃
〃He has stabbed his wife already。〃
〃I will speak to him；〃 said Mr。 Stone。
Hilary smiled。 〃I am afraid that words will hardly meet the case。 She ought to disappear。〃
There was silence。
〃My book！〃 said Mr。 Stone。
It smote Hilary to see how white his face had become。 'It's better；' he thought； 'to bring his will…power into play； she will never come here； anyway； after I'm gone。'
But； unable to bear the tragedy in the old man's eyes； he touched him on the arm。
〃Perhaps she will take the risk； sir； if you ask her。〃
Mr。 Stone did not answer； and； not knowing what more to say； Hilary went back to the window。 Miranda was slumbering lightly out there in the speckled shade； where it was not too warm and not too cold； her cheek resting on her paw and white teeth showing。
Mr。 Stone's voice rose again。 〃You are right； I cannot ask her to run a risk like that！〃
〃She is just coming up the garden；〃 Hilary said huskily。 〃Shall I tell her to come in？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Mr。 Stone。
Hilary beckoned。
The girl came in； carrying a tiny bunch of lilies of the valley； her face fell at sight of Mr。 Stone； she stood still； raising the lilies to her breast。 Nothing could have been more striking than the change from her look of guttered expectancy to a sort of hard dismay。 A spot of red came into both her cheeks。 She gazed from Mr。 Stone to Hilary and back again。 Both were staring at her。 No one spoke。 The little model's bosom began heaving as though she had been running； she said faintly： 〃Look； I brought you this； Mr。 Stone！〃 and held out to him the bunch of lilies。 But Mr。 Stone made no sign。 〃Don't you like them？〃
Mr。 Stone's eyes remained fastened on her face。
To Hilary this suspense was； evidently； most distressing。 〃Come； will you tell her； sir；〃 he said； 〃or shall I？〃
Mr。 Stone spoke。
〃I shall try and write my book without you。 You must not run this risk。 I cannot allow it。〃
The little model turned her eyes from side to side。 〃But I like to copy out your book；〃 she said。
〃The man will injure you；〃 said Mr。 Stone。
The little model looked at Hilary。
〃I don't care if he does； I'm not afraid of him。 I can look after myself； I'm used to it。〃
〃I am going away；〃 said Hilary quietly。
After a desperate look； that seemed to ask； 'Am I going； too？' the little model stood as though frozen。
Wishing to end the painful scene； Hilary went up to Mr。 Stone。
〃Do you want to dictate to her this afternoon； sir？〃
〃No；〃 said Mr。 Stone。
〃Nor to…morrow？〃
〃Will you come a little walk with me？〃
Mr。 Stone bowed。
Hilary turned to the little model。 〃It is goodbye； then；〃 he said。
She did not take his hand。 Her eyes； turned sideways； glinted； her teeth were fastened on her lower lip。 She dropped the lilies； suddenly looked up at him； gulped； and slunk away。 In passing she had smeared the lilies with her foot。
Hilary picked up the fragments of the flowers； and dropped them into the grate。 The fragrance of the bruised blossoms remained clinging to the air。
〃Shall we get ready for our walk？〃 he said。
Mr。 Stone moved feebly to the door； and very soon they were walking silently towards the Gardens。
CHAPTER XXXIV
THYME'S ADVENTURE
This same afternoon Thyme； wheeling a bicycle and carrying a light valise； was slipping into a back street out of the Old Square。 Putting her burden down at the pavement's edge； she blew a whistle。 A hansom…cab appeared； and a man in ragged clothes； who seemed to spring out of the pavement； took hold of her valise。 His lean； unshaven face was full of wolfish misery。
〃Get off with you！〃 the cabman said。
〃Let him do it！〃 murmured Thyme。
The cab…runner hoisted up the trunk； then waited motionless beside the cab。
Thyme handed him two coppers。 He looked at them in silence； and went away。
'Poor man；' she thought； 'that's one of the things we've got to do away with！'
The cab now proceeded in the direction of the Park； Thyme following on her bicycle； and trying to stare about her calmly。
'This；' she thought； 'is the end of the old life。 I won't be romantic； and imagine I'm doing anything special； I must take it all as a matter of course。' She thought of Mr。 Purcey's face'that person！'if he could have seen her at this moment turning her back on comfort。 'The moment I get there；' she mused； 'I shall let mother know； she can come out to…morrow； and see for herself。 I can't have hysterics about my disappearance； and all that。 They must get used to the idea that I mean to be in touch with things。 I can't be stopped by what anybody thinks！'
An approaching motor…car brought a startled frown across her brow。 Was it 'that person'？ But though it was not Mr。 Purcey and his A。i。 Damyer； it was somebody so like him as made no difference。 Thyme uttered a little laugh。
In the Park a cool light danced and glittered on the trees and water； and the same cool； dancing glitter seemed lighting the girl's eyes。
The cabman； unseen； took an admiring look at her。 'Nice little bit； this！' it said。
'Grandfather bathes here；' thought Thyme。 'Poor darling！ I pity everyone that's old。'
The cab passed on under the shade of trees out into the road。
'I wonder if we have only one self in us；' thought Thyme。 'I sometimes feel that I have twoUncle Hilary would understand what I mean。 The pavements are beginning to smell horrid already； and it's only June to…morrow。 Will mother feel my going very much？ How glorious if one didn't feel！'
The cab turned into a narrow street of little shops。
'It must be dreadful to have to serve in a small shop。 What millions of people there are in the world！ Can anything be of any use？ Martin says what matters is to do one's job； but what is one's job？'
The cab emerged into a broad； quiet square。
'But I'm not going to think of anything；' thought Thyme； 'that's fatal。 Suppose father stops my allowance； I should have to earn my living as a typist； or something of that sort； but he won't； when he sees I mean it。 Besides； mother wouldn't let him。'
The cab entered the Euston Road； and again the cabman's broad face was turned towards Thyme with an inquiring stare。
'What a hateful road！' Thyme thought。 'W
